The Blue Angel
Seen it?1930 | 108 min | Drama
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (96% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 48 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in German, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1930: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Prim professor Immanuel Rath finds some of his students ogling racy photos of cabaret performer Lola Lola and visits a local club, The Blue Angel, in an attempt to catch them there. Seeing Lola perform, the teacher is filled with lust, eventually resigning his position at the school to marry the young woman. However, his marriage to a coquette -- whose job is to entice men -- proves to be more difficult than Rath imagined.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 90 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.3 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 71K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
The Servant
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed drama that fewer people know today.
Almost Famous Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed drama.
Priscilla
Saturday SpecialAnother drama, and a Saturday Special.
The Greatest Showman Sunday Safe BetAnother drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Small Things Like These Saturday SpecialAnother drama.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Josef von Sternberg
- Emil JanningsImmanuel Rath
- Marlene DietrichLola Lola
- Kurt GerronKiepert
- Rosa ValettiGuste
- Hans AlbersMazeppa
- Reinhold BerntThe Clown
- Károly HuszárThe Blue Angel's Proprietor
- Eduard von WintersteinSchool Headmaster
- Hans RothBedel
- Rolf MüllerPupil